Football is a game that rouses passion; it always has done and it always will do. It’s the heartbeat that drives fans and their allegiances.
Incidents and actions on the field inflame the passions of fans on the terraces. That’s what makes football great; that’s what makes football a cathartic affair.
This, below, isn’t what makes football anything. As much as football adds to the passions a person feels; this only detracts from football as the spectacle it deserves to be.
https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1104728581270315008?s=20
As Sky Sports say, the attack from a Birmingham fan is “an absolute disgrace.” Forget all about ‘heat of the moment’, forget all about ‘inflamed passions’, forget about all of that and the associated fineries. Remember just one thing, this is thuggery plain and simple.
It is an act of thuggery that has rightly led to his arrest, should lead to a formal charge and a custodial sentence. Simple as that – there is no excuse for what he did on live television.
Birmingham derby match aside, partisan passions put on hold, traditional rivalries dampened down – there is no excuse that can be tendered for what was witnessed. In fairness, the authorities should only concentrate on the actus rea here of what happened, the mens rea playing only a side note.
Grealish attack – fan reactions
Attack, a powerful and emotive word but one that sums up the very essence of what was witnessed. It was an attack that was bound to garner some response and so it did. Here’s how some fans have reacted to the blindsided punch landed on Jack Grealish.
They’re not fans, neither is this guy. They are muppets that attach themselves to football because they know they will get maximum exposure
— 🎸 (@Toffeetim) March 10, 2019
I’m a life long Blues supporter…and ashamed of this disgraceful behaviour by an individual.
— Mick Conlon (@1875Mick) March 10, 2019
He should get a life ban from all football grounds – and hopefully spend some time in jail too. Absolutely appalling and cowardly behaviour.
— Chris Errington (@ChrisErrington1) March 10, 2019
Shocking to think that some people think it’s a good reason to have a joke about it, it’s an assault on a person, forget he is a footballer, if this was on the street he would be charged, that is a footballers place of work so should be safe to do their job!
— Scott Philbey (@philbeys67) March 10, 2019
That’s shocking. More needs to be done to protect players from all clubs. Should serve as a wake up call for the EFL, FA & FIFA.
— Everything’s All White💙💛 (@b1ake_LUFC) March 10, 2019
Disgraceful assault on Grealish, Tammy Abraham very professional stopping the pitch invader getting a peppering by other players, should be commended.
— Paul (@PaulTheFace_) March 10, 2019
He should get a life time ban, they should throw the book at Birmingham and he should do a custodial sentence. End of. #VillaBirmingham
— Cavs 🍀🇮🇪 (@VillansArmy) March 10, 2019
6 months jail sentence how many witnesses seen it.
This is an individual moron.
Punishment should be the law.
Why should clubs get punished for 1 idiot.
If it’s automatic jail time even idiots will think twice— Brian Connor (@brianc0nn0r) March 10, 2019
There was a sweet response from Grealish though, the Aston Villa midfielder opening the scoring in the second-half.
#AVFC LEAD!
Jack Grealish scores a well-deserved goal 👏
Watch live on Sky Sports Football or follow updates here: https://t.co/HvftpzFWLJ pic.twitter.com/GyaJFceEB2
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 10, 2019
